Some Of The Saddest News To Grace This Discussion Board . . . Russ

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http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings27.4jul27,1,797034.story?coll=la-news-obituaries&ctrack=1&cset=true

From the Los Angeles Times

Laura Devon, 76; had a brief TV and film acting career in the 1960s

From Los Angeles Times Staff and Wire Reports

July 27, 2007

Laura Devon, 76, who had a short film and TV acting career in the 1960s, died of heart failure July 19 at her Beverly Hills home, said her son, screenwriter Kevin Jarre.

Devon had leads in several films from the mid- to late '60s, including "Red Line 7000" opposite James Caan in 1965, and "Gunn" with Craig Stevens and "A Covenant of Death" with George Maharis, both from 1967.

A native of Detroit who started her career singing in nightclubs there, she moved to Southern California in the early '60s and made her film debut in director Vincente Minnelli's "Goodbye Charlie" (1964).

She had numerous guest roles in TV series, including "Route 66," "The Twilight Zone" and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour." She was also part of the ensemble cast for "The Richard Boone Show," a well-regarded dramatic anthology series that lasted one season, from 1963 to '64.

My condolences ...

Becca

Oh, Russ - how very, very sad - and if I had to hear this news at all, I'm glad that it came from Mr. Conway!

(This is going to a photo-filled Tribute to Ms. Devon in 3 parts, so please give these a minute to load properly.)

It has been quite difficult to find any news of the lovely Laura Devon over the past several years. How sad that this is how we learned of her again. I am glad to know that she lived in Beverly Hills these past years ... it suited her.

Whatever direction her career took, I will always cherish her performance as the one and only inimitable Tatia Loring.





What can I say?? ... There was something about Ms. Devon that captivated me - she had a very special and totally unique charm about her. Her mannerisms, gestures, and total style were warm, sophisticated, elegant, and so very appealing.





I've discovered a little information about her along the way. She was born Mary Lou Briley in Chicago (or Detroit - depending on the website) - and she was either 76, 67, or 70 years old (again varying with the website). She was both a talented actress and singer, and cut several single records including "Dreamsville" connected with her role in the "Peter Gunn" movie in 1967.





She appeared in many movies and TV guest appearances throughout the 1960s - including being a regular on "The Richard Boone" ensemble anthology show.


"Peter Gunn" movie(1967)




..



Red Line 7000 (1965)





Chambers of Horrors (1966)





and from very early in her career - an episode of RAWHIDE called Canliss (1964) with Dean Martin and Michael Ansara.




and here's that videoclip we mentioned recently from this episode on YouTube ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnVspsXVWyM


continued in Part 2 ....

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Part 2 ...


She married Brian Kelly in the early 60s - known for his role on the TV show "Flipper" as Ranger Porter Ricks (yup, the dolphin show). He was badly injured in a motorcycle accident in the 60s which left him partially paralyzed. He was the son of Michigan governor, Harry Kelly.


Brian Kelly and Laura Devon




I don't know when they divorced, but Laura later married the world-famous composer, Maurice Jarre, who composed such magnificent movie classics as "Dr. Zhivago," "Lawrence of Arabia," "The Longest Day" and many others. They also divorced. Her son, Kevin Jarre, is a screenwriter with "Glory" and "Tombstone" to his credits.


Here is a website with more information on her, if you are interested ... (again the information varies per site).

http://www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com/show/64/Laura+Devon/index.html


and her filmography on IMDB

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0222873/




And a photo tribute to the lovely Laura Devon
- we'll do our very best to carry on her charming and always enchanting "TATIA" spirit ...



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..



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Glassless glasses Tatia

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and hard at work ....







and looking lovely even on "Bad Hair Days" .... her smile and her enchanting eyes

..


continued in Part 3 ....

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Part 3 ...


and with some "I SPY" cross-overs







with Chanetsov (Paul Richards from "The Spy Business")






and with James Best in THE TWILIGHT ZONE episode "Jess-Belle" (1963)







and with KELLY













TO YOU LAURA ....









As always,
Tatia




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Thank you, Tatia, for posting that well-deserved tribute. I wonder why Ms. Devon stopped acting so soon after the success she achieved in the '60's?

In any event, she will always be remembered for her performance as Tatia from one of the most memorable I Spy episodes.

Take care,
Becca

Hi everyone,

I was pretty shaken with the news of Laura Devon's passing and was trying to find more information about her - which led me to the "Einsiders.com" site. Apparently this gentleman has a huge on-going series of obituaries for people connected to all walks of the entertainment world.


Sadly, while there, I ran across two more "I SPY" connected names ...


ROY JENSON


Roy Jenson as government agent Abrams in "Tag You're It"




Roy Jenson (sometimes listed as Jensen) passed away on April 27th at the age of 80.


He appeared on "I SPY" three times ....


- as Mr. Abrams, the U.S. government man, in “Tag You’re It”

- as Tate, again in a similar role, in “It’s All Done With Mirrors” (one of the men trying to get Scotty to "take care" of the problem of Kelly). Scotty refused, because Kelly was "the only one who wore the same shirt size" as him.

- and finally a full-fledged bad guy, but this time - for a change of pace - as a Russian government guy - as Roschovsky, one of the Russian henchmen in “Magic Mirror.”


Mr. Jenson is well known for his role as "Cloud William" in the STAR TREK episode “Omega Glory.”





He had a long career in TV and films often, playing heavies, and appeared in many westerns along the way. He also did much stunt work. Mr. Jenson was one of those character actors who you'd see everywhere!




Mr. Jenson made this comment in an interview at one time ....

"I really like playing the nasty heavies. And I've always enjoyed working and paying the bills. But as I get older, I wouldn't mind some roles where I can play a nice Daddy or Grandpa! After all, Hollywood is still a dream world."

He also has the claim to fame of being the first man to be beaten up by Caine on "Kung Fu" and of being Roman Polanski's henchman in the famous knife-to-the-nose sequence with Jack Nicholson in the movie "Chinatown" (1974).

And back when Herbie Rimstead and Jimmy Mitchell were discussing the "5 for 5 actors" (actors who had appeared in all 5 of these series -- I SPY, MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., STAR TREK, MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE, and WILD WILD WEST), Mr. Jenson joined the ranks of Ricardo Montalban, Antoinette Bower, and Byron Morrow.


For more on Mr. Jenson, check out IMDB and these other sites for his vast filmography and more ....

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0421772/

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Roy_Jenson

http://www.einsiders.com/features/columns/apr07obituaries.php



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The other name that appeared on this site was BUD MOLIN .


Mr. Molin was one of those names you'd often see rolling by in the end credits. He was a "film editor" extraordinaire. Mr. Molin died on May 21st, a few days before his 82nd birthday.

Mr. Molin was nominated for two EDDIE Awards by his peers at the American Cinema Editors for his work on "I SPY" for both "Court of the Lion" and "The Loser." During his long career, he worked with Desi Arnez and Lucille Ball on the "I Love Lucy" show and often worked with director Carl Reiner, including "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" and "The Man With Two Brains" among many others."



Bud Molin on the left of Desi Arnez


Both Mr. Jenson and Mr. Molin worked on "It's All Done With Mirrors."


For more on Mr. Molin and his impressive filmography, check out ....


http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0596598/

http://www.einsiders.com/features/columns/may07obituaries.php


Way too many of those talented people connected with "I SPY" are sadly gone -- glad we are here to appreciate and remember them - and to value the ones still with us!!


As always,
Tatia


P.S. I am off again this week on another "photo shoot" ( ... err "assignment") and don't know if I will have computer access. So please "keep the campfires" burning around here. I have several things to post on my return.





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Well, that is indeed sad news. I had no idea that the same person (Roy Jenson) as pictured above in his I Spy appearances also played Cloud William on Star Trek! A few weeks ago, I watched parts of a Twilight Zone marathon on SciFi and I could not believe all the actors I recognized from I Spy and also behind-the-scenes names in the credits. Even some of the episode names were similar. I was going to write a long post about it but I didn't have time and now I don't recall all the similarities that I noticed at the time.

Anyway, I am very sorry about the losses but I guess it is to be expected with many people from the show now in their 80's or beyond. Thank goodness we still have our two leading men with us!

Becca

If you look closely at the fight scene at the beginning of "Bet Me A Dollar", I'm pretty sure that Roy Jenson is the dude who knifed Kelly. There are no names given at the end credits identifying the participants of the fight, but I'm pretty sure another guy, the one who Kelly came to the aid of, is another character actor who also appeared as one of the heavies in "Little Boy Lost."

Also, judging by the looks of those buildings in the fight scene, I have a hunch it was all filmed at the Paramount lot. Those buildings have that "Administrative" look to them, and they appeared in other episodes as well. Remember the "Surf shop", also from "Little Boy Lost."